Last heart transplant doctor leaves Oregon

The transplantologist holds the heart of the man in his hands. Medicine and technology save lives. Horizontal composition. (Getty Creative)

Last heart transplant doctor leaves Oregon

The transplantologist holds the heart of the man in his hands. Medicine and technology save lives. Horizontal composition. (Getty Creative)

PORTLAND, Ore. — The only remaining doctor in Oregon’s only heart transplant program has resigned, leaving the state with no medical facilities that can perform the life-saving procedure.

Oregon Health & Science University is now working to transfer the 20 patients on its waiting list to other transplant centers, including those in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Thursday.

The Portland, Oregon, hospital notified patients this earlier week that it was suspending its heart transplant program for 14 days because one doctor had left and two others had given notice, leaving one doctor to provide follow-up care.

The final doctor to leave did not give a reason for her departure, which was reported Thursday.

OHSU said it won’t evaluate new patients for transplants, accept donor hearts or perform any transplant surgeries for two weeks and is scrambling to find heart specialists to add to its program.